Transcript Components of a Perfect World

THE GIVER
KEY ELEMENTS OF THE SETTING
TO KNOW AND THINK ABOUT
WHILE READING
Utopia?
A utopia is supposed to be a
place of ideal perfection,
especially in laws, government,
and social conditions.
This is usually an imaginary
place in literature.
A common theme in Utopian
Literature is to “uncover” the
society for what it really is: a
place where people lead
dehumanized and often fearful
lives.
Utopian Society
--Coined by Thomas More in his work, Utopia (1516)
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a literary genre. Characteristics
include:
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Science fiction
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Setting is in a distant time and
place
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There is no obvious way to arrive
or depart from a utopia
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Basic needs of all people are
provided for
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Everyone works
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Little room for individuality
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Lack of technology by citizens - but
technology may be essential to
leadership
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utopia is derived from two Greek
words: ou which means "no" and
topos which means "place." Utopia
literally means "no place.”
Suspension of Disbelief refers to the
willingness of a reader to accept as
true the premises of a work of
fiction, even if they are fantastic or
impossible.
In The Giver, like many works of
science fiction, the reader is asked
to accept the world of the novel as
realistic in order to gain an
understanding of the issues and
ideas the author is trying to
express.
Dystopian Society
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A “bad place”
An anti-utopia
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Usually set in the future
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Lack of privacy for citizens
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Government or state controls the
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population--totalitarian
People divided into castes or social
classes; may be based on job roles
Free will and individualism are
given up in exchange for
safety/peace
Main character (protagonist) wants
freedom and may rebel
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Even though the societies and settings
in science fiction seem to be totally
different from ours, the author wants
us to compare our society to theirs and
look for similarities.
Often, the idea is for us to imagine
what would happen if our society were
like the one in the novel
Advanced technologies/new
technologies that support the state’s
control of the citizens
Protagonist exists to save the
community or to restore
freedom
he Giver - Lesson 1 - Hook
YOUR BACKGROUND
KNOWLEDGE

WHAT books or films have you read/viewed
that are concerned with a utopian or
dystopian society?
The Giver - Lesson 1 - Hook
Components of a Perfect World
Government
Selection of
Leaders
Services
Provided
Health Care
Judicial
System
Family Unit
Education
Laws
Marriage
Careers
Punishment
Children
Leisure
Activities